New encapsulation to increase B12 absorption

Emisphere Technologies' new encapsulation technology that enhances
the absorption of B12 vitamin has passed its second stage of proof
concept studies and is due to be released next year.

The biopharmaceutical company recently announced that its
preclinical in vivo studies using dogs confirms previous findings
in a rat study to show that its proprietary eligen technology
enhances the absorption of the vitamin.
"These additional animal studies are an important milestone in
our plans to commercialize our eligen technology,"​ said
Michael Novinski, president and CEO of Emisphere.
"Developing a B12 formulation with greater bioavailability will
alleviate a significant unmet medical
need." ​​B12
bioavailability ​​B12 is a
"very poorly absorbed molecule"​, Bob Madison, senior
director of corporate communications told
NutraIngredients-USA.com.
While its absorption levels for injected B12 is between 7 and 30
percent, B12 tablets only have a bioavailability of 1 percent,
according to Madison.
However, he said that so far the studies of the companies'
encapsulation technology have shown bioavailability of between 7
and 30 percent - therefore the same as its achieved in injecting
the vitamin.
"Our elogen molecules bind with whatever vitamin we are using
them with, and protect it through the digestive tract,"​ he
said.
"The encapsulation technology flows with the body's natural
fluids​ and is then released into the bloodstream via the
intestinal lumen of the small
intestine." ​​The product is not yet
commercially available as first it has to be tested on humans in
the last stage before being approved by the Food and Drug
Administration. Emisphere hopes the technology will be available by
early 2009.
​B12
vitamin ​​Madison said that B12
deficiency is a big problem in the US and elsewhere.
Five million people in the US receiving 40m B12 injections annually
to treat a variety of medical conditions. At least an additional
five million people are consuming over 600m B12 tablets of varying
strengths.
Madison "However, it is very hard to get people to have
injections - the oral route of administration is much more
desirable, which is why we have been working on a tablet that
delivers the same bioavailability as the
injection." ​​As well as being used in
supplement, the company said it has had much interest in its
encapsulation technology from functional foods companies.